Evan Conway and Taylor Crull score to help send squad to the third round
SAN DIEGO (April 6, 2022) – San Diego Loyal SC continues to stack up milestones in its first three years in existence. It added another mark to its history with a 2-1 win against Albion San Diego in its first-ever Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup appearance Wednesday night.
A late goal by Taylor Crull at Canyon Crest Academy, the home site of Albion, helped clinch SD Loyal’s first win in the single elimination tournament and helped send coach Landon Donovan’s team to the third round of the historic competition.
Crull sent in a header off an Alejandro Guido corner kick in the 89th minute to seal the scoring off a match that had SD Loyal trying to break through the Albion defense for most of the night.
Donovan’s squad finally broke the defensive stand by the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) team with a goal by Evan Conway to open up the scoring in the 41st minute. Conway scored for SD Loyal after he split a pair of defenders as he sprinted into the penalty box, reaching a through pass after he beat his mark. The forward flicked the ball and Albion goalkeeper Benjamin Roach got a piece of it. But it wasn’t enough. The ball continued to roll into an open net.
It was Conway’s second goal with SD Loyal and the club’s first ever goal in the nationwide tournament that pairs professional and amateur clubs from throughout the country. The midweek match also had a pair of SD Loyal USL Academy contract players making their first starts in CJ Fodrey and Xavi Gnaulati. Donovan and his staff relied on a variety of players, including Andrew Carleton, Morgan Hackworth, Taylor Crull and Camden Riley. Davi Santos, another USL Academy contract player, also made his club debut coming on as a substitute in the second half.
SD Loyal continued to move the ball fluidly in the second half, carrying the momentum over from Conway’s first half goal. After all, the forward from Wisconsin nearly scored earlier in the match. With a chance inside the penalty box in the 34th minute, Conway took a pass to his left foot but couldn’t get a clean shot off. Gnaulati took the deflection and tried to move into the box but the Albion defense closed in to end the dangerous play.
Jack Blake nearly scored in the 61st minute when he sent a blast straight at Roach, the Albion goalkeeper, who was at his line to punch away the near point-blank shot.
Albion was able to find the net itself on a quick play. The homeside tied the game 1-1 in the 65th minute with a goal by Mayale Malango. He sent in a cross from left to right past SD Loyal goalkeeper Austin Guerrero, who crashed into one of his defenders as he tried to make the save.
The home side’s tying goal, along with a tight defense led to Donovan bringing on a handful of regular starters late in the second half. The move paid off. It led to the game-winner by Crull off the precise corner kick by Guido.
SD Loyal will now wait for the U.S. Open Cup third round draw to commence on Friday April 8 to find out its next opponent. The third round match will take place between the April 19-21 window of competition.
In the meantime, SD Loyal continues preparations for its next USL Championship match against Charleston Battery Saturday April 9 (7 p.m.) at Torero Stadium.
